Skincare Twice a Day: Myth or Reality?

Let’s be completely honest for a second.

If you read beauty magazines, you would think that skipping your morning or evening skincare routine is practically a crime against humanity. The industry loves to paint this picture of perfection: rigid ten-step routines, clockwork consistency, and glowing compliance 365 days a year.

I am a certified therapist specialising in mature skin. I formulate natural science skincare. And do you know what the reality is behind closed doors?

I am the world’s worst.

I preach consistency, but I live in the real world. I have days when I am shattered, crawling into bed while watching something on TV, and the routine completely goes out the window. I have been known to wake up at 4:00 AM for a wee, remember I missed my night application, and put it on right then and there in the dark.

I love a scalding hot shower, even though I know it strips the skin barrier. I come out, wrap myself up, let my skin air-dry for a few minutes while I get distracted by work, and suddenly realise an hour has passed and I forgot my serum.

So if you are sitting there thinking, "I try my best, but I’m exhausted and I slip up," please take a deep breath. You are entirely normal.

The "Good Genes" Reality Check

I hear it all the time: "Oh, I don’t really need much, my genes are good."

I hold my hands up, I have good genes. They are not quite as good as my mum's, but they are good! But here is the issue: I have always worn makeup. Wearing makeup every day takes a toll on your skin, and even the best genetics in the world need a helping hand to deal with that.

Good genes are a wonderful head start, but as we move through our forties, fifties, and beyond, our skin actually changes structurally. It gets thinner. It loses its resilience. It scars faster, damages easier, and takes longer to bounce back from everyday life.

Skipping skincare entirely because your genetics are great is like buying a brand new car and never changing the oil. It might run for a while, but eventually, the wear and tear catches up.

Twice a Day vs. Once a Day: What Your Skin Actually Needs

In an ideal world where everything goes to plan, doing your routine twice a day gives you the absolute best results.

The Morning Shield: If you wear makeup, putting skincare on underneath is non-negotiable 100%. Makeup sits on the skin; your skincare acts as the protective buffer between your delicate barrier and the pigments, environment, and day ahead.

The Evening Repair: If you aren't wearing makeup and you only have the energy for one application all day, make it the evening. Overnight is when your cell regeneration peaks and your skin does its heavy lifting repair.

The Golden Rules (From a Therapist Who Slips Up Too)

If you are going to do it, let's do it right.

First, do not scrub your face dry. I let mine air dry naturally for five minutes after a shower, but if you use a towel, make sure it is genuinely soft and just gently pat. Never rub. Mature, thinning skin hates friction.

Second, do not fall for the "why bother" trap. Sometimes you skip a few days, look in the mirror, and think, "Well, my skin looks exactly the same, maybe I don't need this routine after all." Don't let that fool you. The thinning and damage happen slowly, deep within the barrier. Just pick your routine right back up.

Third, do not overcompensate. I had a lady come to me once and say, "I forgot to use it for a few days, so I just used it four times in one day to catch up." That won't do a thing. Your skin can only absorb so much.

Finally, give yourself permission to be human. If you can only manage once a day, let it go. Do what fits your life, protect your skin when it matters most, especially if you wear makeup, and stop beating yourself up.

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About the Author I am a certified therapist specialising in mature skin, aromatherapy, and herbalism, and the founder of Balanced Botanics. Running the brand entirely as a solo business, I have my premium, natural science skincare handcrafted to protect and support changing skin.